Why aren't boot/bonnet gas struts rechargeable?

[guindilias]

My boot lid has a delightful tendency to drop on me when I am halfway through looking for something inside, with predictable results - a sore head/back.
As they are reasonably expensive items (for all that they are), would it not make sense to provide a gas charging nipple, or even sell aftermarket ones equipped as such so you could adjust the amount of opening/closing power?
Bloody annoys me, forking out £200 for a set of struts that have nothing wrong with them except low gas pressure!

[littlebasher]

I'd assume the loss of gas/fluid is a result of the seals inside wearing.

[ging84]

they are not in the slightest bit expensive when you buy them by the thousands like the manufacturer does.

[Fore Left]

Don't know what car the OP has so picking an Audi A5 at random, they're £16.79 here

[guindilias]

A big Jeep with a wheel on the rear hatch - makes for expensive struts. I see the argument about the seals wearing, but if they've got "weak" over the last few years, surely there is a way to charge them up to full and get another few years out of them?

[s2sol]

These people might be able to help. Bottom of the page:

http://www.sgs-engineering.com/car-boot-tailgate?g...

[Krikkit]

Once the seals have gone the rate of leakage will increase dramatically with pressure charge. You'd likely end up with them almost as weak after a few months.

[guindilias]

Ah, I suppose they would... I might have to look at those SGS ones, as my Jeep was never meant to have the wheel on the hatch - so it's VERY overweight and gives you a right crack when it decides to fall down (only when you stop looking back at it!).
I don't think I'd go for those SGS ones, nice that you can vary the pressure but you can only let them down, not pump them up!
Back to the broomstick for now, I think...

[Shakermaker]

Take the wheel off the hatch, and store it on the bonnet like a proper off-roader...

[guindilias]

That would squish the bonnet to pieces as soon as I hit the first big bump!

[s2sol]

guindilias said:

Ah, I suppose they would... I might have to look at those SGS ones, as my Jeep was never meant to have the wheel on the hatch - so it's VERY overweight and gives you a right crack when it decides to fall down (only when you stop looking back at it!).
I don't think I'd go for those SGS ones, nice that you can vary the pressure but you can only let them down, not pump them up!
Back to the broomstick for now, I think...

SGS also refurbish. Mine were only £36 to buy, but I've kept the old ones and might get them refurbished.

[GroundEffect]

How do you know there's nothing else wrong? The seals have probably aged and failed. Regassing would do....F all.

[diddles]

Quite possible that there is nothing wrong with the struts, only that they are being used outwith there design spec. You mention "never meant to have the wheel on the hatch"

I would check whether they operate correctly with the weight of the wheel removed before replacing like with like.